ABI3
Abl interactor 3
Also known as: ABI3, NESH
Biology & Mechanism
ABI3 is an adaptor protein expressed in microglia that plays roles in actin cytoskeletal dynamics and cell motility. A rare coding variant in ABI3 (S209F) is associated with increased Alzheimer's disease risk. ABI3 participates in the WAVE regulatory complex and may influence microglial migration, morphological plasticity, and phagocytic function. ABI3 expression is enriched in microglia relative to other CNS cell types.
Open Questions
- —How does the S209F variant alter ABI3 function in human microglia?
- —What is the contribution of ABI3-mediated cytoskeletal dynamics to microglial migration toward amyloid?
- —Can ABI3 function be distinguished from its role in other immune cells?
Sources
- Rare coding variants in PLCG2, ABI3, and TRIP4 implicate microglial-mediated innate immunity in Alzheimer's disease (2017)
Last reviewed: June 1, 2026